You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:5 (New International Version, NIV)

I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. Psalm 66:15 (New International Version, NIV)

In the Old Testament, men offered physical sacrifices of animals. In the New Testament, Peter speaks of spiritual sacrifices. Since Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament sacrifice, we no longer have to offer up animals. However, there is a principle that carries over from the Old Testament, through the cross, and to the New Testament believer. We are still to offer sacrifices to God, but they are now spiritual in nature. What does it mean to offer spiritual sacrifices to God?

Heart

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:8-9 (KJV)

The first aspect of offering spiritual sacrifices is that we offer our hearts up to God. We draw near to God with our hearts, giving our hearts to Him. If not, our worship is in vain, meaning it is empty, worthless, and means nothing to God. We worship God from our hearts, based on the Word of God’s truth.

Body

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 (New International Version, NIV)

We also offer our physical bodies to God, but as living sacrifices, not dead ones. The Old Testament believers offered animals, killing them to present them to the Lord. Rather, we are to offer our bodies in worship to Him in all we do. As we live to please God, our bodies are living sacrifices to Him.

Thanksgiving

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

We are to live to give thanks to God. At all times, we are to have an attitude of gratitude. We aren’t told to give thanks FOR all things, but IN all things. There is a difference. We can be thankful to God in the midst of trouble, but we do not have to be thankful for the trouble itself. According to Hebrews 13:15, as we offer the sacrifice of praise, we use our mouths to give thanks to God. Ephesians 5:19 tells us to give thanks by singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.

Praise & Worship

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Acts 16:25-26 (KJV)

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:10-11 (KJV)

We are to praise God and give Him glory in the good and the bad times. We are also to worship Him, which means to show that we value Him, that He is of great worth. Worship means to bow down and kiss towards. we are to worship God from our hearts, giving Him our love and adoration. Both praise and worship are aspects of spiritual sacrifices.

Giving

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42 (New International Version, NIV)

Giving, both to God and to other people, is an act of worship and spiritual sacrifice.

Serving

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16 (KJV)

Jesus served, and we are to serve God and each other, which is a spiritual sacrifice.

Prayer

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Revelation 5:8 (KJV)

Our prayers go up to God as sacrifices.

Love

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (New International Version, NIV)

It is a sacrifice to love people and to lay down our lives for them. There is no greater love than this.

Conclusion

It may seem like being a living sacrifice entails more than we can do, but in reality it isn’t. When we are born-again and truly love the Lord, these things will not be difficult for us. They will become practically automatic as we choose to love and draw near to God. Being a living sacrifice is selfless, but it also the most fulfilling thing we can do.